KINGSTON, Ont. (February 26, 2016)- The Queen's Gaels women's basketball team had its five-game winning streak snapped on Friday evening at the Athletics and Recreation Centre (ARC), dropping a 66-61 decision to the OUA East rival Ryerson Rams in a battle of nationally-ranked teams.
 
Emily Hazlett led all players with 19 points, shooting 7-of-16 from the floor, while Robyn Pearson chipped in 14 points and 13 rebounds for a double-double in a losing cause for the Gaels (14-4). Marianne Alarie tallied 10 points, and Sarah Saftich added eight for the hosts.
 
Silvana Jez and Sofia Paska each recorded 14 points in helping the Rams (15-3) move one step closer to clinching the OUA East division and the second-seed in the OUA playoff race.
 
GAME FLOW
The visitors were quick out of the gate, scoring nine straight points to start the contest in the opening four minutes, which led to a quick timeout call from Head Coach Dave Wilson. Following the break, Ryerson scored four more points before a three-pointer from Alarie (Sudbury, Ont.) snapped a near seven minute drought from the hosts where they missed their opening six shots and turned the ball over on five occasions.
 
Pearson (Toronto) kept the Gaels in the game with some good work in the post, earning two lay-up buckets that kept the deficit to 10 points late in the quarter. Mariah Nunes continued to lead the charge for the Rams, however, hitting two free-throws to record a quarter-high 10 points. A buzzer-beating hook shot from Hazlett cut the Rams lead down to eight heading into the second quarter.
 
The hosts were unable to cut into Ryerson's advantage in the second quarter, shooting at a first-half efficiency of 28.6%. The No. 4 ranked Rams could not, however, expand much upon their their lead, committing four turnovers in the second stanza alone while missing a couple of routine baskets. Hazlett (Fredericton, N.B.), who led the Gaels with six points in the first two quarters, finished off a well-executed in-bounds play with only seconds remaining in the half, sending her team into the break down by 11.
 
The Gaels started the second half with four-straight points, and after another basket from the hosts, Hazlett stole the ball off the ensuing Rams inbounds, and Wright picked up her first two points of the game to bring the Gales within five. A corner three off an inbounds from Sarah Saftich (Markham, Ont.) kept the Gaels within striking distance. Queen's would start the third by going on an impressive 15-4 run, and with 2:43 left Nunes picked up her fourth foul, forcing Rams Coach Carly Clark to sit her leading scorer.
 
Three turnovers from the Gaels within the last two minutes of the third, however, seemed to undo much of the work they had done to bring the deficit down to four points. Ryerson took full advantage, pushing their lead back up to double-digits by the end of the period.
 
The paced intensified early in the final quarter, where the Gaels burst out on an 8-2 run, which was sparked by another highlight reel play from Hazlett, who after picking up another steal made an acrobatic lay-up while being fouled. After she made her free-throw, Alarie notched a three-pointer, and the Ryerson lead was once again under threat.  
 
Another three following a Rams bucket from Saftich brought the lead down to two, but a timely response from beyond the arc by Tiemens re-extended the Ryerson lead. The Gaels then missed 3-of-4 free-throw attempts on their next two possessions, and the Rams took advantage with four more points at the other end of the floor to push the lead up to six with under a minute left.
 
Hazlett hit a desperation three to cut an eight-point lead down to five with under 20 seconds left, but the Gaels ran out of time down the stretch, allowing the Rams to move solely into first-place in the division and even the season series at one win a-piece.
 
FINAL SAY
"We created some good opportunities to come back in the second half, but it was a disappointing start to the game," said Wilson. "I thought in the first half we were out-muscled and out-hustled. We did a much better job in those areas throughout the second half. A few mental mistakes here and there swung the momentum back in their favour after we were able to get the deficit down."
 
BY THE NUMBERS
7- Robyn Pearson has recorded seven double-doubles in the regular season
19- Emily Hazlett picked up a season-high 19 points against the Rams
1-Just one rebound separated the two squads, with Ryerson pulling down 48 compared to 47 from the Gaels
 
UP NEXT
The Gaels will conclude their regular season at the ARC on Saturday evening, when they will host the Toronto Varsity Blues. Tip-off is set for 6:00 p.m.